If today’s Telegraph interview with The Passage
But, beyond the tale of how he constructed his best-selling novel during bike rides with his daughter, Cronin offered up some excellent insights into the literary-genre divide.
Tag Archives: vampires
The literary world is abuzz with news that author Anne Rice has abandoned Christianity. In the name of Christ. Or something like that.
I’m not going to take a position for or against the religion or the political and moral issues Rice cites as her reasons. However, I would like to take a stab at the logic of her controversial revelation to see if another, more professional motive might explain it better than the stated one.
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the idea of focusing on short stories rather than full-length books for our summer reading lists. Although no one else has yet picked up the challenge, I have already barreled ahead on my own.
Having picked up a copy of the May/June Fantasy & Science Fiction journal, I read two stories in particular that really stood out for me.
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First link of the day comes from Jessica at BookEnds. Following up on a fantastic post by Nathan Bransford about the importance of keeping a “series bible” to keep track of the little details in your fictional world, Jessica explains the difference between a series bible and a style sheet, and why an author should seriously consider developing a style sheet before his or her work goes under the editor’s knife.
I am using that as my intro today because Jessica’s idea hadn’t even occurred to me, even though I do maintain a rough series bible for the Observer Tales. (The releasable stuff, I rework into Observer’s Gloss entries.) Now I have another project!
On to the rest of the links: Continue reading
This week I have begun a variety of summer renewal projects. I have potted 10 new plants in my new place, and have begun a photo catalog of my bookshelves. (I may post these to the blog, if encouraged.)
I have also begun a targeted revision of The Ligan of the Disomus, and a related short story, The Woman Who Wouldn’t Die. Although I do not subscribe to the common wisdom that a work of art is “never finished, merely abandoned,” I am glad that Ligan had not been picked up for publication before I had a chance to sketch out and complete a few short stories in the Observer’s world, and thus work out some larger-scale plot and character development decisions.
But, enough about my writerly life! On to the links from other writers: Continue reading
Let’s just dive straight into the links this week!
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♣ The Author Magazine blogster reminds us that a really good story forces us to ask the question: “What do I want most?” (This is also true of magical compasses, I hear.)
♣ Moonrat at Editorial Ass(istant) tells us how to throw an awesome book launch.
♣ Kassia Krozser at BookSquare points out that change in the publishing biz must start at home, with the executives who run it.
♣ The Moby Lives blog asks whether we are seeing the end of book ownership.
Finally, the ever-prolific Eric at Pimp My Novel:
♣ issues a call for guest posts (you have until 16 June!);
♣ warns us of the approaching E-Pocalypse;
♣ explains the difference between billing and point-of-sale; and
♣ analyzes publishing trends like The [Adjective] Wife, vampires/werewolves, literary mash-ups, and the world ending in 2012.
Okay, so I haven’t dropped a chain of literary agent links since April. Throw something heavy and hard at me. (I can take it.)
But, seriously, moving across town without hiring a moving company takes a lot out of a guy, especially when most of what you own consists of boxes and boxes of books. Kindle is looking real nice right about now.
So let’s get to those links!
♦ Dystel & Goderich doesn’t disappoint! Look at what the folks there have served up lately:
- Miriam reminds us that the real point in publishing is to enjoy it.
- Stacey does a damn good job and slapping down the cliché that men don’t read.
- Rachel gives up her best books list.
- Jessica seeks the logic underlying vampire stories, teenage hook-ups, mash-ups, and Malcolm Gladwell.
- Lauren confesses her love of bookshelf-lined walls.
♦ Jessica at BookEnds dives into the thorny issue of getting published after being self-published, and answers questions about resubmitting a reworked query letter, the purpose of query letter guidelines, and morality clauses in YA/MG contracts. She also warns us that confidence in a query can backfire.
♦ At her Pub Rants blog, Kristin compares different POVs, explains why enhanced ebooks will cause havoc, and tells writers why highlighting your age in a query is not a good idea.
♦ Nathan Bransford reminds us that every writer gets rejected.
♦ Rachelle Gardner at Rants & Ramblings reveals the secrets of a great pitch.
Enjoy!
“Hey, John!” I imagine you say, “Why are you not writing more of The Crow and the Kinnebeck, instead of posting another round of links to other blogs?”
Well, first of all, I am still writing, but I am also doing some reading and research essential to getting the historical and literary references just right.
Secondly, stop italicizing the title of that short-story-gone-rogue as if it will become a novel! I don’t care that you’re only italicizing it in my hypothetical typed form of an imaginary conversation with a notional reader. Do not conspire with the Muse. She has a strong enough grip on me already. Note how She recruits even my psychological projections to do Her bidding?
So, where was I? Oh yes: more publishing and writing links! I know the last bunch were professedly for Christmas, but just consider them the “under the tree” links. You know how, every year, you ravenously tear open all the “under the tree” presents until you’re sitting there (possibly breathing hard) in a nest of bows and shredded paper feeling a sudden, inexplicable emptiness? Then HO-HO-KAPOW: you remember the stocking!
Consider this is your link stocking. And, for some odd reason, just like real footwear all of the items below come in twos.
Lydia Sharp shares her dream about meeting — and then becoming one of the — characters from Twilight. If this sounds like an awful stocking gift, consider this spoiler (alert!): unlike the fictional Bella, and unlike millions of emotionally manipulable readers, Lydia loses/rejects both of the B-grade YA Romeos.
I have also added the following publishing-related blogs to my reading list: Alice’s CWIM Blog (why are there so many YA and Children’s Lit blogs?) and Booksquare.
Rachelle Gardner offers up some good words on who should and shouldn’t self-publish, and how her insane work-out schedule helps her help you!
And finally, guest contributor Randy Susan Myers at Pimp My Novel offers up a smorgasbord of books on writing, conveniently organized into two categories: “Part One – Before: Technique, Tools, and Support” and “Part Two – After: Selling Your Book Without Selling Your Soul.”
Authors are overflowing with two things: stories and questions for literary agents. This week’s publishing links are dedicated to the latter. Our cupth runneth over!
Got a question? Read on… one of my favorite literary agents may have the answer.
Lit agent Jessica at BookEnds responds to a question about the submission process with both good advice for authors, and some pointed commentary on agents who insist on a “no simultaneous submissions” rule. Hint: they don’t come off well in her analysis.
Chasya at Dystel & Goderich also poses a question from a blog reader — “What are the biggest mistakes writers make when pitching their work at a conference?” —and publishes responses from several agents at the firm. Bonanza!
The Editorial Anonymous blog takes on the mysterious rejection “Not for me, thanks” and what it really means in all of its possible permutations. (Warning: may induce chuckling.) Thanks to Janet Reid for pointing me toward this one.
Agent Kristin Nelson answers two series of questions this week (count ’em: one! two!), tackling issues like revisions, the struggling economy, and angels vs. vampires. (My initial thought: both groups are immortal but only one is sparkly and vaguely pedophilic?)
If I were going to ask a literary agent a question, it would probably be about the use of pen names. Lo, and Behold! Nathan Bransford has answered that very question in a recent blog.
Author and Knight Agency lit agent Lucienne Diver tackles the publishing buzz question of the year: “Can any device save publishing?” She answers the question by questioning it.
HIGHLIGHT LINK DU JOUR DE LA SEMAINE: At the Book Deal blog, publisher Alan Rinzler answers some fascinating questions about writing in light of discoveries in neuroscience. You don’t have to write cyberpunk to appreciate these methods for hacking your readers’ brains.